Alleged murder suspect arrested in LaGrange

Published 6:10 am Thursday, March 30, 2017

By Melanie Ruberti

Melanie.ruberti@lagrangenews.com

Public Safety Reports

LaGrange police officers along with investigators from the Newnan Police Department arrested a wanted man late Monday night at a home in the 400 block of Town Center Drive.

Monte Baugh, 27, was taken into custody and charged for his role in the murder of a 19-year-old man in Newnan.

The victim was shot to death and found lying in a yard in Jan. 2015, officials stated.

Baugh was transported back to Newnan and currently remains in the Coweta County Jail.

Man fights officers; claims he saw it on “COPS”

A man blamed a popular TV show for fighting with LaGrange police officers as they tried to detain him.

The incident happened during a routine traffic stop for speeding early Tuesday morning on Smith Street near North Greenwood Street.

As the LPD officer approached the driver’s side window, he smelled the strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, the report stated.

The officer called for back-up units and asked the driver, identified as Vanquerious Ikel Jackson, 22, to step out of the car and onto the sidewalk, according to the report.

As two LPD officers tried to place Jackson in handcuffs, the man attempted to get away from them, the report read.

Jackson allegedly would not follow the officers’ commands and continued to resist being put in handcuffs. The 22-year-old man pushed away from now four police officers and reportedly snatched his arm from their grasp.

During the struggle, Jackson hit one officer in the mouth and caused lacerations to the fingers of a second LPD officer, the report said.

When police asked Jackson why he fought with the officers, he allegedly said it was because, “he has seen it on COPS.”

When officers’ searched the man’s car they found suspected marijuana seeds, a glass jar with suspected marijuana, a digital scale and two loaded pistols, according to the report.

Jackson consented to blood test that will determine if he had drugs in his system while he was driving, the report stated.

Jackson was charged with DUI – less safe, DUI – controlled substance, possession of marijuana and two counts of felony obstruction. He was also cited for speeding.

The man was booked into the Troup County Jail.

All information in this report is gathered from official law enforcement and public safety reports and releases. It is the policy of the Daily News to list the names of people charged with felonies. Reach the LaGrange Daily News at 706-884-7311.